Illegal hazardous waste dumps in Mendocino Co. linked to Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — The California Highway Patrol is investigating a series of illegal hazardous waste dumps along Highway 101 in Mendocino County. According to Caltrans, evidence collected at four dump sites connects the hazardous materials to the San Francisco Bay Area.

Environmental health and hazmat teams assisted Caltrans in the cleanup of one site on Monday. The state transportation agency said 19 barrels of commercial hazardous waste were removed from an embankment south of Leggett.

“At the cleanup site on Monday, the materials were only 10 feet away from dropping over a cliff with a drop of about 50 to 75 feet right into the creek,” said Caltrans District 1 Hazardous Materials Manager Danny Figueiredo. “The creek has fresh running water, with fish, and that would have been disastrous.”

Officials estimated the cost of the cleanup and material disposal to reach $30,000.

The series of illegal dumps of hazardous waste began in November when officials said they found two incidents in Hopland. Another site was discovered in March in Laytonville near Shamrock Ranch.

“The evidence collected indicates that the materials found at all four sites originated from the Bay Area, possibly from an old construction or roof insulation company in Livermore,” Figueiredo said.

No further information on potential suspects was released.

Anyone with information or who saw suspicious activity involving the dumping of barrels of waste along Highway 101 in Mendocino County is asked to contact the California Highway Patrol at 707-932-6100.